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SSTI Digest
Tech Bills Pass on Last Days of Hawaii Legislative Session
A number of bills to strengthen Hawaii's science and technology standing were passed during the final days of the legislative session.
The High Technology Development Corporation has been empowered to issue $100 million in special purpose revenue bonds for the development of high-technology facilities and office space under an act Governor Ben Cayetano signed during the last week of April. Effective immediately, the act allows bond monies to be used as incentive or inducement financing to attract technology companies to the state as the interest rates on the bonds are lower than current bank loan rates. A copy of the act is available at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hb2443_hd2_.htm
New Community Technology Centers, Study Funded; RFP Open
President Clinton announced the award of $44 million in grants to establish 214 more Community Technology Centers in economically distressed, high-poverty communities. The centers -- to be housed in libraries, schools, community centers, community colleges, public housing facilities, & other organizations -- will make computers & the Internet available to low-income residents in urban & rural communities. Business & community partners will provide matching funds. For more information, including a list of recipients by state, see: http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/04-2000/0418.html
DOEd Technology Plan Being Revised
The Department of Education Office of Educational Technology (OET) is reviewing and revising the national educational technology plan. The revision will be completed by Fall 2000 and will include new national goals for the effective use of technology in education. The public is invited to offer opinions and recommendations through the office's web site: http://www.ed.gov/Technology
From May 8-19, the discussion topic is research & development and e-learning and education. Comments on other topics related to educational technology are invited any time through May 19. The website also offers white papers on the future of technology in K-12 education and other relevant information.
Plethora of Papers Published on Public Program
Several papers and report have been released recently on the Advanced Technology Program (ATP); five were published on line last week alone. Below are descriptions of selected papers and links to download full copies. Additional titles are available on the ATP web site: http://www.atp.nist.gov/atp/pubs.htm
Research, Tech Tax Incentives Proposed in Alabama
Technology-based businesses and investors in Alabama may be eligible for several new tax credits if legislation recently introduced passes the state legislature. The Incentives for Targeted Growth Act of 2000, Senate Bill 571, was introduced April 19 to encourage the growth and expansion of Alabama’s technology community. The bill was developed after the Alabama Commerce Commission, while developing a new economic development strategy for Alabama, found the state’s current capital investment tax credit program was not particularly attractive for research firms, start-ups, and technology-based businesses.
If passed, S.B. 571 would:
Second NGA New Economy Paper Released
The National Governors' Association has released the second paper in the New Economy Series. Growing New Businesses with Seed and Venture Capital: State Experiences and Options identifies four basic strategies states pursue to increase venture investing and makes eight observations regarding best practices among state seed and venture capital financing efforts. The paper also includes several benchmarks in program design, management practices, and program results to use in analyzing a public program’s effectiveness. Three appendices complete the paper. The first appendix presents PricewaterhouseCoopers capital investment statistics by state and industry sector and the second describes four case studies of successful capital access programs. The final appendix is a matrix of the types and ranges of capital access programs offered in each state. The paper was prepared by Robert Heard, president of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds, and John Sibert, CEO of the Global Finance Group, LLC.
People in S&T
During the National SBIR Conference this past weekend, it was announced Jon Baron will be leaving his position as SBIR/STTR Program Manager for the Department of Defense on June 1.
Washington Governor Gary Locke has named Fred Morris as his new advisor for science and technology. Mr. Morris has been working for Battelle Memorial Institute's Northwest Research Center where he has worked at the Science and Government Center
Rosalie Ruegg has retired from her position as the Director of the Economic Assessment Office for the Advanced Technology Program in the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
People in S&T
During the National SBIR Conference this past weekend, it was announced Jon Baron will be leaving his position as SBIR/STTR Program Manager for the Department of Defense on June 1.
People in S&T
Washington Governor Gary Locke has named Fred Morris as his new advisor for science and technology. Mr. Morris has been working for Battelle Memorial Institute's Northwest Research Center where he has worked at the Science and Government Center
People in S&T
Rosalie Ruegg has retired from her position as the Director of the Economic Assessment Office for the Advanced Technology Program in the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Millions in Renewable Energy Funding Freed in Massachusetts
On April 19, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court cleared the way for the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund to begin operations with a unanimous ruling that the funding mechanism is constitutional. Between 1998 and 2003, the Trust, managed by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, will receive about $150 million to accelerate the use of cleaner sources of electricity and to invest in the development of the renewable energy industry in Massachusetts. In subsequent years, the Trust will receive about $20 million a year.
As an outgrowth of electric utility deregulation, the Trust was created in 1998 by the legislature to promote the development of renewable energy in the Commonwealth through a series of initiatives that exploit the advantage of renewable energy in a more competitive marketplace. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative was selected by the legislature to lead this effort.
NSF Places Prominent Scientists & Engineers in Middle Schools
More than 240 of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers, including 14 Nobel laureates, will begin sharing their passion for discovery with middle school students across the nation as a result of the “Scientists and Engineers in the Schools” program. Announced last week, the program is a new initiative of the National Science Foundation.